Title : The Design, Development and Test of a Rocket Payload to Measure Atmospheric Density.

Descriptive Note : Final rept. 8 Feb 72-15 Nov 73,

Corporate Author : TRI-CON ASSOCIATES INC CAMBRIDGE MASS

Personal Author(s) : Huber,William B.

Report Date : JAN 1974

Pagination or Media Count : 61

Abstract : Rocket-borne instrumentation to measure atmospheric density in the 100 km to 200 km altitude region was designed, developed, and fabricated. The instrumentation employed two pulsed 4.5 kev electron beams each with an average current of one milliampere. Observation of the beam induced bremsstrahlung was made with two end-window proportional counters and associated electronics in the 1.0 to 4.5 kev x-ray region. The ultraviolet fluorescence was observed with a single 3914 A photometer and associated logarithmic electrometer. In order to measure vehicle charge, a planar retarding potential analyzer was employed. This report details the sensor specifications and electrical design of the instrument payload. (Modified author abstract)